Introduction
Cruella is a 2021 film directed by Craig Gillespie, an adaptation of the iconic Disney villain. While the previous film version focused on the persona of Cruella, the given movie focuses on the backstory of this individual. As a result, the audience sees the path of a young woman called Estella, who rises to a well-known fashion designer position, replacing the older mogul Baroness. However, to reach these heights, the young woman had to confront mainstream ideals, discrimination, and trauma. Thus, the film is a refreshing take on a classic character, and its attention to detail allows the audience to witness not only Estella’s transition into Cruella but also the social issues she has to face on her path.
Verisimilitude, Character Arc, and Audio-Visual Story
When analyzing the film on a deeper level, one can see the verisimilitude and how the cruel fashion world depicted in the motion picture resembles reality. This is seen mainly in Baronesse’s persona, who represents the cutthroat fashion industry and does not find it immoral to steal the ideas of others. In one situation, when Estella offers better advice on improving the design of the dress, Baroness gaslights her by claiming, “That’s what I just said” (Cruella 38:03). This emphasizes the importance of the senior personnel in the industry and the irrelevance of others.
Moreover, throughout the film, the audience observes a gradual transition of the main heroine, Estella, which illuminates the character arc. In the beginning, one sees the rebellious side of the young girl who makes a living by stealing. However, as the aspiring heroine claims, she “felt [she] was meant for more in this life” (Cruella 17:31). The Major character arc of Estella is seen when she realizes that Baroness is an evil person who killed her mother, which subsequently makes her transition into a new persona, Cruella.
Throughout the film, such episodes are complemented by audio-visual elements. For instance, the visual emphasis is seen through bright colors to demonstrate wealth and power in contrast to neutral colors to show poverty or unimportance. As for the audio focus, the film incorporates songs from rock bands, such as The Animals, The Zombies, and others, emphasizing Cruella’s rebellious character.
Humor as a Tool to Critique Mainstream Ideals
Another point to consider when analyzing the film is the presence of humor that serves as a tool to critique mainstream ideals. Cruella is an unapologetic heroine seen as a strong-willed and rebellious fashion designer. While her adversary, Baronesse, takes pride in meticulous work, perfect shows, and immaculate designs, Cruella emphasizes her unwillingness to conform to societal expectations.
In one scene, the audience sees how Cruella enters the show from a garbage truck wrapped in bits of newspaper (Cruella 1:11:41). This way, the film critiques the pressure to conform to societal ideals. In another scene, when Cruella works at Liberty, she comments on the choices of visitors as she enters the boutique. As she passed one woman, she said, “Whatever covers your neck more” (Cruella 24:39). This comic remark accentuates how the mainstream ideals influence the perceptions of society, where covering one’s imperfections is seen as appropriate and necessary.
Social Issues
However, aside from the humorous aspects of the film, the motion picture emphasizes the acute social issues. First, the film concentrates on the issue of identity. On the one hand, Estella has always been fascinated by the fashion world, claiming, “I felt like I belonged” (Cruella 7:34). On the other hand, the young woman has always been treated like an outcast, from her school, where she was bullied, to her first job at Liberty, where her manager always confronted her. As a result, the movie represents the young, ambitious woman not only finding her passion and fulfilling her potential but also reconciling her true identity.
Another social issue present in the film is discrimination and workplace harassment. Estelle faces the struggles of not only constantly being underestimated and called a “grubby girl” (Cruella 35:51) but also being physically harmed with a knife and asked, “Why are you speaking?” (Cruella 34:10). As a result, Baroness is the oppressor who discriminates against her employees.
Exploration of Themes
Some of the themes can be better viewed in specific scenes, such as the theme of identity explored in the scene where Cruella is told who her real mother is. While being raised by “the sweetest woman who ever lived,” Estella learns from the Baroness’s butler that the fashion mogul is her “birth mother” (Cruella 01:41:42). This is among the pivotal moments that contributed to the formation of Cruella’s identity. Although having another birth mother, she rejects such a truth, remaining loyal to her past self and family, which shows her core values.
Another scene with Baroness shows discrimination against Estella when she was her assistant. While being angry with the new competitor, the fashion designer projected her anger onto the young woman, telling her to “get [her] dried-up, desiccated little brain working” (Cruella 1:09:36). This shows not only disrespect but also the little value Baronesse thinks of her employees.
Article
Lastly, the articles by Jacqueline Dutton and Stephanie Zacharek help understand comedy and relate to the “Cruella” film. In the first article, Dutton demonstrates parody as a relatively straightforward and efficient tool for creating sarcasm and humor (Dutton 454). The many characters’ encounters provide context-specific irony, political incorrectness, preconceived notions, and burlesque, all supported by persistent self-deprecation (Dutton 454). While discussing the film Tout Simplement Noir, Dutton (454) emphasizes that the protagonist’s story is driven by intradiegetic growth that begins with his naive and passionate desire for community transformation and cooperation. This relates to Cruella, which illustrates irony and stereotypes by highlighting the transformation of the main hero.
The article by Zacharek focuses on comedy and villains, claiming that the perceptions of villain characters and their backstories have changed, receiving more understanding and recognition (Zacharek para.3). In this situation, humor is mainly used to enhance the division between the character and others and show the personality of the main hero. Therefore, both articles enhance the understanding of comedy as a tool to support the main characters’ story, their growth, and confrontation.
Conclusion
The movie offers a novel interpretation of a well-known character. Its attention to detail lets viewers see Estella’s transformation into Cruella and the social problems she encounters along the way. The brutal reality of the fashion industry can be seen in the movie’s verisimilitude, character art, such as the change from Estella to Cruella, and audio-visual emphases, such as the use of colors and rock music. When examining the movie, it is also important to consider the humor used to mock conventional thinking, as seen in Cruella de Vil’s eccentric performances and remarks in the boutique. However, aside from its comic elements, the movie also tackles pressing social themes, including identity and discrimination.
Works Cited
Cruella. Directed by Craig Gillespie, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2021.
Dutton, Jacqueline. “Tout Simplement Noir: Simply Parody or Complex Paradox in France’s (Post) Racial Utopia?” Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, vol. 26, no. 4-5, 2022, pp. 449-460. Web.
Zacharek, Stephanie. “Is it Time to Retire the Villain Origin Story?” Time Magazine, 2021. Web.